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Spiritual intercourse

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BY CHERYL BENTLEY

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: October 22, 2008

There is a message in the music, but it will be different for everyone.

Music is an art that affects everyone personally, said singer Otep Shamaya. "Art is supposed to motivate and inspire and provoke," she said. "If we've done those things, we've done our job. You may hate us, but we've done our job."

Shamaya and her band Otep will headline at Bourbon Street Nightclub, in New Port Richey, Monday, Oct. 27, the eve of the release on vinyl of their album "The Ascension."

She prefers to call her four-member band a fusion band because "we incorporate many aspects of all types of music," Shamaya said. But, she conceded, the band's style falls more into the hard rock category.

Other members of the band are bass player eVil J, guitarist Karma Cheema and drummer Brian Wolff.

"The Ascension" album was first released last year and was chosen by "Billboard" magazine as one of its hot picks for the year. It reached 81 on the Billboard 200 charts and six on Top Independent Albums.

The album's songs feature Shamaya's growls of rage and pain vocalizing raw, hauntingly honest lyrics. In the song "Communion," she sings, "I sold my soul so long ago and now I'm alone here in the palace of madness and sadness and bone."

The album has no filler pieces, Shamaya said. "We worked really hard to make sure every song was meaningful."

The band was signed by Capitol Records in 2000 after it had made only four appearances at a Los Angeles club. "Our impact on the L.A. music scene was almost immediate," Shamaya recalled.

That was no accident, she said. Through her music, she was determined to reveal her inner vision with both its warts and poetry.

"Women when they get into music feel they have to act a certain way. I wanted to create music because I wanted a platform for self expression."

In 2001 and 2002, Otep performed at the annual hard rock festival the Ozzfest.

Shamaya is a singer with a social conscience who is active in various progressive causes, including the environmental movement and animal and victims rights.

This year, Shamaya spoke at the Democratic Party convention for Rock the Vote, an organization that works to mobilize and educate young voters.

She promises attendees at the New Port Richey concert an experience of "spiritual intercourse." The band's performance will be about "energy and exchange," between the band and the audience, she said.

"I try to give the audience a glimpse into a very private universe."

The lowdown

Otep will perform starting at 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27, at Bourbon Street, 4331 U.S.19, New Port Richey. Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door. For more information visit www.clubbourbonstreet.com> or call 727-843-0686.

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